Summary- Act Four Scene 3 opens with Brutus and Cassius arguing. Brutus accuses Cassius of being too rash, and not killing Caesar "for the greater good", but for his own selfish reasons, while Cassius says that he is an older, wiser soldier than Brutus, and Brutus should listen to him and not speak to him in such a way. Brutus tells Cassius that his threats do not scare him, for his integrity greatly succeeds Cassius', and that Cassius is full of petty greediness when he would not send gold to his troops so that Brutus would not have to charge the peasants, something he could not bring himself to do. The two eventually reconcile and Brutus promises that if Cassius should be angry with him in the future, he will not take it so seriously.
Literary Analysis When we find out later in the scene that Portia as died, we come to realize the reason why Brutus has suddenly began to point out Cassius’s faults. Because she took her own life, Brutus feels betrayed by her, and as he cannot speak disloyal thoughts about her, he turns to Cassius, who’s friendship with Brutus is the friendship bond equivalent to his romantic one with Portia. Suddenly, it’s Cassius who betrayed him, and left him. Discussion Questions- 1. Who quarrels? Why? 2. Why do you think Brutus talks to Cassius about his greediness and brutal ways AFTER they kills Caesar? Character List- Marcus Brutus- conspirator, Caesar’s friend before he killed him, killed Caesar for the “greater good of Rome,” but was his intentions as “pure?” Also believes that Cassius killed Caesar for his own selfish reasons Cassius- conspirator, shrewd opportunist, acts effectively but lacking in integrity
Important Quotes “Remember March, the ides of March remember. Did not great Julius bleed for justice’ sake? What villain touched his body that did stab and not for justice? What, shall one of us that struck the foremost man of all this world but for supporting robbers, shall we now contaminate our fingers with base bribes and sell the mighty space of our large honors for so much trash as may be grasped thus? I had rather be a dog and bay at the moon than such a Roman.” Brutus, lines 19 to 29.
“Let me tell you, Cassius, you yourself are much condemned to have an itching palm, to sell and mart your offices for gold to undeservers.” Brutus, lines 9 to 13.
ACT IV SCENE iii
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Summary-
Act Four Scene 3 opens with Brutus and Cassius arguing. Brutus accuses Cassius of being too rash, and not killing Caesar "for the greater good", but for his own selfish reasons, while Cassius says that he is an older, wiser soldier than Brutus, and Brutus should listen to him and not speak to him in such a way. Brutus tells Cassius that his threats do not scare him, for his integrity greatly succeeds Cassius', and that Cassius is full of petty greediness when he would not send gold to his troops so that Brutus would not have to charge the peasants, something he could not bring himself to do. The two eventually reconcile and Brutus promises that if Cassius should be angry with him in the future, he will not take it so seriously.
Literary Analysis
When we find out later in the scene that Portia as died, we come to realize the reason why Brutus has suddenly began to point out Cassius’s faults. Because she took her own life, Brutus feels betrayed by her, and as he cannot speak disloyal thoughts about her, he turns to Cassius, who’s friendship with Brutus is the friendship bond equivalent to his romantic one with Portia. Suddenly, it’s Cassius who betrayed him, and left him.
Discussion Questions-
1. Who quarrels? Why?
2. Why do you think Brutus talks to Cassius about his greediness and brutal ways AFTER they kills Caesar?
Character List-
Marcus Brutus- conspirator, Caesar’s friend before he killed him, killed Caesar for the “greater good of Rome,” but was his intentions as “pure?” Also believes that Cassius killed Caesar for his own selfish reasons
Cassius- conspirator, shrewd opportunist, acts effectively but lacking in integrity
Important Quotes
“Remember March, the ides of March remember. Did not great Julius bleed for justice’ sake? What villain touched his body that did stab and not for justice? What, shall one of us that struck the foremost man of all this world but for supporting robbers, shall we now contaminate our fingers with base bribes and sell the mighty space of our large honors for so much trash as may be grasped thus? I had rather be a dog and bay at the moon than such a Roman.” Brutus, lines 19 to 29.
“Let me tell you, Cassius, you yourself are much condemned to have an itching palm, to sell and mart your offices for gold to undeservers.” Brutus, lines 9 to 13.